Three Colors, One Portrait
Painted from a live model in the studio, this portrait began as an exploration of complementary color and the expressive possibilities of a limited palette.
I challenged myself to work with just three colors: blue, red and white. By mixing these colors in different proportions, I created the range of warm skin tones, deep reds and luminous blues throughout the composition. The interplay of red and blue brings an underlying energy to the painting, while the turquoise background creates a striking contrast with the warmth of the figure.
I love the discipline of working with a limited palette. It becomes less about the number of colors available and more about discovering how much expression, depth and harmony can come from just a few.
Details
Original oil on linen.
Artwork: 12" × 16"
Painted from a live studio model.
Three Colors, One Portrait
Painted from a live model in the studio, this portrait began as an exploration of complementary color and the expressive possibilities of a limited palette.
I challenged myself to work with just three colors: blue, red and white. By mixing these colors in different proportions, I created the range of warm skin tones, deep reds and luminous blues throughout the composition. The interplay of red and blue brings an underlying energy to the painting, while the turquoise background creates a striking contrast with the warmth of the figure.
I love the discipline of working with a limited palette. It becomes less about the number of colors available and more about discovering how much expression, depth and harmony can come from just a few.
Details
Original oil on linen.
Artwork: 12" × 16"
Painted from a live studio model.
